Lab 1 - Safety/Intro Flashcards
what do we put in the regular trash can?
paper towels, lens paper, tissue paper, other items as instructed
what do we put in the glass coffin?
glass culture tubes (first we remove the marker labels w ethylene-soaked paper towel)
what do we put in the biohazard disposal containers?
plastic culture tubes and plates, bodily fluids, and others. (you only handle your own bodily fluids and dispose of them properly)
what do we put in sharps boxes?
any slides that you make (NOT the prepared slides and depression slides)
what do we put in the broken glass container?
broken glass only, no trash
define culture
to intentionally grow microbes
define contamination
the presence of unwanted microbes
define growth media
broth or agar medium containing nutrients for the growth of microbes
what is broth and agar?
broth = liquid
agar = solid
define sterile
the absence of any microbes
is a growth media sterile?
yes
define inoculation
to deliberately transfer a microbe into a growth medium
define aseptic technique
it is used to minimize contamination of media and cultures (aka just being careful)
define incubation
to allow a microbe time to grow under controlled conditions, ex a set temperature or oxygen level
define mixed and pure cultures
mixed = population of microbes that have been grown and contains more than 1 kind of microbe (ex: skin)
pure = population of microbes that has been grown and contains only 1 kind of microbe only
define isolation
to separate microbes present in a mixed culture into pure cultures
define inspection
observing features of the microbe
(appearance on broth or agar tubes/plates, morphology (shape and size) under microscope, and growth on different media under different conditions)
define identification
to find out the species of the microbe
define pathogen
a microbe that can invade the body, reproduce and cause tissue damage
define primary pathogen
can cause disease in healthy individuals
define opportunistic pathogen
needs an opportunity to cause disease like an immunocompromised state, underlying medical conditions (like liver failure), pre-existing tissue damage (burns), high numbers, etc.
when we work with opportunistic pathogens, what do we have to do?
use safety measures discussed
what are biosafety levels (BSLs)?
Each microbe is assigned a biosafety level based on its relative threat to lab workers
what is the least hazardous and most hazardous BSLs?
BSL 1 - Least hazardous
BSL 4 - Most hazardous
the BSLs levels are assigned based on what 2 criteria?
- Ease of transmission
- Severity of disease
what are bioaerosols?
sneezing, coughing, etc.
what microbes does BSL-1 consist of?
Non-pathogens or opportunistic pathogens rarely causing serious infections
Examples of diseases caused by BSL-1
Most of the normal microflora including Staphylococcus epidermis, E. coli, Aspergillus niger
what are the safety protocols for BSL-1?
-Avoid generating bioaerosols
-Wear lab goat, safety goggles, gloves/bandages if skin is broken
-Wash hands before leaving lab
what microbes does BSL-2 consist of? + examples
-Pathogens with moderate overall risk; moderate chance of being transmitted and causing mild or easily treatable disease.
Example: Salmonella enterica, Serotype Typhi, Staphylococcus aureus
OR
-Pathogens with a very low chance of transmission but causing serious disease.
Example: HIV
what are the safety protocols for BSL-2?
-Wear gloves when handling cultures
-Wear face shields in case of risk of splashes
-Use a biosafety cabinet to direct airflow away from you in case of risk of bioaerosols
what microbes does BSL-3 consist of?
Pathogens with significant risk of respiratory transmission leading to severe or deadly disease
what are examples of diseases that BSL-3 cause?
Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Bacillus anthracis, Yersinia pestis
what are the safety protocols when handling BSL-3?
-Respiratory protection required (use a sealed biosafety cabinet, or wear a respirator and use an open-front biosafety cabinet)
-1 way airflow must direct pathogens away from lab doors towards a filtering unit
-Lab must have lower air pressure than the surrounding space to prevent air-borne pathogens from escaping out
what microbes does BSL-4 consist of?
Extremely high-risk pathogens that are easily transmitted by aerosols and frequently cause death in infected people
in BSL-4, are effective treatments and vaccines available?
No, effective treatments and vaccines are unavailable
what are examples of diseases caused by BSL-4 microbes? what are these diseases transmitted by?
Ebola virus, Lassa virus
They are transmitted by aerosols
what is the safety protocol for handling BSL-4?
-Wear a positive pressure suit that provides uncontaminated breathing air
-If suit is punctures, air rushes out and minimizes exposure to the pathogens
SARS-CoV-2 is a ____ pathogen?
BSL-3
what is a thermal burn?
an injury caused by exposure to excessive heat
what is the primary and secondary advantages of using the aseptic technique?
1- To prevent contamination of microbes from culture media.
2- To protect students in the laboratory.
